Nissan

What's New for 2009.

Cube: This all-around transportation utility appliance should make its North American debut at November’s L.A. auto show. Details are sparse, but look for the 122-hp, 1.8-liter Nissan Versa engine to replace the 95-hp four that struggles to tow the version sold in Japan. Also look for pricing to slot considerably below that of the equally cubic Scion xB, probably somewhere in the same range as the Versa hatchback—about $14,500 to $15,500.

Frontier: If rising fuel prices provoke a revival of the mid-size-pickup market, Nissan hopes the freshened Frontier will parlay its already strong work-ethic rep into increased market share. Updates include a new front fascia, new wheels, and a new dirty-driving edition—the PRO-4X Off-Road that includes Bilstein shocks, underbody skid plates, and BFGoodrich dirt tires. As before, the Frontier is offered in standard-cab, extended (King Cab), and crew-cab body styles. The Frontier is powered by either a 2.5-liter four or Nissan’s familiar 4.0-liter V-6, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions and a part-time four-wheel-drive system.

Maxima: All-new for 2009, the seventh-generation Maxima gets a sexy new skin to better differentiate it from the smaller and cheaper Altima; the two sedans are built on the same platform. The Maxima’s rich styling rides a chassis that tries to deliver performance and mostly succeeds.

Xterra: Nissan’s rugged go-anywhere SUV gets a freshening that includes a new front fascia, new wheel designs, and a very butch roof-mounted light rack for Off-Road models. The interior also is updated, including a redesigned instrument cluster. Offered in four trim levels—X, S, Off-Road, and SE—the ’09 Xterra reached Nissan showrooms in July.